Hundreds of people have objected to a Workington factory’s plan to erect three wind turbines which would be taller than Big Ben on site.

Consultation has come to an end into Iggesund Paperboard’s application to erect the 110m-high turbines at its Siddick plant.

A petition against the plans has gathered more than 300 signatures and a further 87 people have lodged official objections with Allerdale Council.

David Lumsden of Seaton Park, said the structures would have a “further detrimental effect” on the appearance of the area.

“The intrusion into the countryside and effect on birds and other wildlife (especially Siddick Pond) will be devastating,” he said.

“Ask Mr Van Der Westhuizen (who has submitted the application on behalf of Iggesund) if he would like to look at these monsters every time he looks out of his windows?

“We already have more than enough of these things.”

Barbara Sloan, of Meadow Vale, said the turbines were too near houses.

“There is substantial evidence that they cause shadow flicker and produce invasive noise. We seem to have a surfeit of turbines in our area which dominate our sky line,” she said.

“Other issues are the effect on wildlife, particularly at Siddick Pond which is only just recovering after a recent fire.”

A statement previously issued by Iggesund said a survey had found there were no cases where the wind turbines would form an over-dominant feature in the views from either houses or gardens.

Trees, hedgerows, buildings, pylons and cycle paths would limit views of the windfarm from Seaton and Siddick, it said.

The company said the development would not lead to an unacceptable cumulative impact when combined with existing turbines at Oldside and Siddick.

It said: “In terms of overall impact on living conditions, the development would not give rise to unacceptable effects.”

Meanwhile, a wind turbine can be built at New Grange, Dearham, despite planning officers recommending it should be thrown out.

Julia Marrs asked Allerdale Council for permission to put up the turbine, up to 148ft (45m) high, to support her farming business.

Agent Richard Hortin of Earthmill Ltd said the farm had been in Ms Marrs’ family for three generations and she wanted to employ her son as an apprentice when he leaves school next year, but could not afford to.

She currently has a part-time job on top of running the farm to make ends meet and cares for her elderly father.

Income from the turbine would boost the business and allow the family to return to dairy farming, which they had to move away from for financial reasons.

Planning officers were concerned that the plan would have a negative cumulative impact.

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